KARACHI: The recent involvement of women in protests against law enforcement operations in Lyari is not a spontaneous reaction but a deliberate tactic designed to manipulate public perception.
According to security analysts, this tactic aims to craft a misleading narrative of state oppression while providing cover for organized criminal groups and anti-state elements.
For decades, Lyari has been recognized as a hub of organized crime. However, experts warn that the area has now evolved into a safe haven for agents of foreign-sponsored unrest, particularly those linked to hostile Indian networks. Utilizing urban anonymity, advanced technology, steady funding, and easy access to populations, these elements use cities like Karachi as launching pads for anti-state activities.
A key concern is the ideological targeting of young, educated Baloch students by groups like the Baloch Youth Council (BYC). These groups promote narratives centered on historical grievances, colonial resistance, and ethnic marginalization to radicalize the youth. This has led to an alarming trend: an increasing number of educated individuals are being recruited into violent militancy, including involvement in suicide attacks.
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Additionally, women are being strategically positioned at the forefront of confrontations to create an illusion of grassroots resistance. On social media, this imagery is used to frame security operations as oppressive while casting militant elements as victims of state brutality.
Security officials stress that such propaganda not only misguides the public but also endangers national cohesion by weaponizing identity and misinformation.
